Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



J. G. MAGLAREN. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

' APPLIGATION FILED AUGQZO, 190B.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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J. G. MAGLAREN. PNEUMATIC DESPATOH TUBE APPARATUS APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 20, 190B.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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wvllllfl THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO LITHOH WASHINGTONv D. c.

J. G. MAGLAREN.

PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED memo, 1908.

1,1 33,812, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTG-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. n. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFEQE.

JAMES G. MACLAREN, 0F HARRISON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIG-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES G. MAGLAREN, of Harris0n, in the county of WVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumati'c-Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic despatch tube apparatus and particularly to that class wherein a normally closed air-valve is located in the suctiontube connecting the transmission tubes with the usual vacuum drum and which valve is adapted to control and limit the flow of air through the transmission tubes to the interval necessary for the transmission of the carriers.

The object of my invention is to provide means independent of the vacuum in the system for operating said valve, whereby the same is controlled from either of the stations along the line to create and time the flow of air through the transmission tubes for driving carriers therethrough. This is accomplished by providing a supply of compressed air generated by an independent pump which is connected with the mechanism for operating-the air-valve and also connected with and controlled by a device located at each of the stations along the line which'will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodying my invention. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the operating mechanism in section and with parts in normal position and connected with a circuit of pneumatic transmission tubes. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the controlling mechanismin normal position, connected with and operated by the despatchinginletat a substation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showingthe normal position-of the controlling device located at the bell mouth or centralstation. Fig. 4': is an=enlarged sectional view of the timecontrolled mechanism for operating the air-valve, the full lines representing the'normal or non-operating position of the same while the dotted lines represent the open or operating positions. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the relief valve connected with the supply of compressed air.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted M 3% 1915 Application filed August 20, 1908.

Serial No. 449,562.

located-at the central station C. 9 is a tube connecting the terminal 7 with the ordinary vacuum drum 11, in which a vacuum is maintained'by air eXhauster of lever 12 operated by an electric motor 13 through belt 1%. 6 is the ordinary despatching inlet for inserting carriers into the transit tube 5 at sub-station S and'2 is the bell-mouth or air inlet for insertingcarriers into transit tube l at the central station C. Interposed in the tube 9 is a casing 10, having two chambers 17 and 54, connected by a port 18 which is normally closed by a valve 48 secured to one end of a valve stem 49 mountedin a bearing in said casing 10. The opposite end of the valve stem 49 is attached to a diaphragm 50 mounted in the outer part of the casing 10 and which is held in the full-line position shown in Fig. 41 by a suitable spring 53. 56 is a by-pass connecting the chamber 52 on one side of said diaphragm with the chamber 51 on the opposite side and 57 is a timing screw adapted to be adjusted to restrict said by-pass 56, if necessary. is a passage connecting the chamber-52 withthe vacuum in the chamber 47. The chamber 51 is connected through pipes 3% and 33 with the chamber 29 in a casting 27, mounted on the tube 1 adjacent to the bell-mouth 2. 29 is a port normally close'cl by a valve 30 and adapted to admit compressed air from the chamber 28 into the chamber 29 when said valve is opened. 31 is a shaftto which the valve 30 is secured and 32 is atrip fixed to said shaft 31 at one end, the free'end of said trip projecting into the tube 1 adjacent to bell-mouth 2. 26 is a pipe connecting the chamber 28 with the compressed air reservoir 18 air being suppliedthrough a pipe 16 connected with a suitable air pump 15 operated'by a crank 12 secured to the shaft of the blower 12. 17 is a check valve for holding the compressed air in reservoir 18. 25 is relief valve interposed in the pipe 16 between the checlz valve 17 and the pump 15. This valve consists of the casing 25 in'which is mounted a valve 23 connected at one end with the valve stem 22 and normally closing the inside of casing 25 from the atmosphere. The opposite end of the stem 22 is connected with, the diaphragm 21 mounted in casing 20, said diaphragm being of greater area than the valve 23 and exposed on its inner side to the pressure in reservoir 18, communicated through pipe 19. 2a is a spring adapted to counter-balance the normal or required pressure in the reservoir 18, Which acts on diaphragm 21 and tends to open the valve 23 to relieve the air-supply from the pump 15 to the atmosphere when the pressure in reservoir 18 rises above normal. The chamber 51 is connected through pipes 34 and 36 with chamber 10 in the casing 38 mounted on tube 5 adjacent to the despatching inlet 6 at sub-station S. 37 is a pipe connecting the reservoir 18 with chamber 39 in said casing 38 and 11 is a valve pivoted at 42 and normally closing port 10 which is adapted to connect chambers 39 and 4-0. The handle -15 to which the valve 6 is secured is pivoted at as and connected through a link 41 with one end of lever 43 upon which valve 41 is mounted.

The operation of the device is as follows :In despatching a carrier from central station C to sub-station S, the operator inserts the carrier into the bell-mouth 2 where it engages and depresses the trip 32 opening valve 30, admitting compressed air from the chamber 28 into chamber 29 thence through pipes 33 and to chamber 51'causing the diaphragm 50 to be forced over against the tension of spring 53 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, opening valve 48 causing a flow of air through bellmouth 2, transit tubes 1 and 5 thence through tube 9 by way of chamber 54: and +7 to the vacuum drum 11. The carrier is now driven through tube 1 toward sub-station S and immediately after passing over trip 32 the valve 30 is closed by the pressure in chamber 28 cutting oil the supply of compressed air to chamber 51. The vacuum now acting through passage 55, chamber 52 and by-pass 56, gradually exhausts the air from .chamber 51, allowing the spring 53 to slowly move the diaphragm 50 and valve 18 until by the time the carrier has delivered at sub-stations the valve 418 has entirely closed cutting off the flow of air. The timing valve 57 may be adjusted to properly time the closure of valve 18. In despatching a carrier from sub-station S to central station C the operator opens the despatching inlet 16, inserts the carrier and closes said inlet. The opening of said inlet operates through link 41 and lever 13 to open the valve 40 admitting compressed air from chamber 39 into chamber l0, thence through pipes 36 and 34: to cham- 7 ter 51 opening the valve 18 as heretofore described, causing a flow of air through the bell-mouth 2, driving the carrier toward the central station 0. The closure of the inlet 6 closes the valve '11 cutting 0ft" the supply of compressed air to chamber 51. The air in said chamber 51 is gradually exhausted and the valve 4:8 closed in the manner hereinbefore described cutting ofi" the flow of air by the time the carrier has delivered at the central station C.

Having thus described my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United State is:

1. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a tube for the transmission of carriers, means for exhausting air from said tube, a normally closed air valve for controlling the flow of air through said tube, a source of compressed air, mechanism to be operated upon the despatching of a carrier to cause said compressed air to open said valve, and a connection between said mechanism and airexhausting means, said apparatus having provisions for timing the closure of said valve after it has been so opened by permit ting a regulated flow of compressed air from said mechanism through said connection to said air exhausting means.

2. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination of a transmission tube having a carrier despatching part provided with a closure, means for producing a carrier propelling flow of air adapted to be placed in communication with said tube, a valve controlling said communication, a fluid pressure operated device for actuating said valve, a valve chamber adjacent said closure, an auxiliary valve in said chamber, connections between said closure and said auxiliary valve whereby an actuation of said closure causes an actuation of said auxiliary valve, two auxiliary conduits leading to said valve chamber, one of said auxiliary conduits being in communication with one side of said auxiliary valve and the other being in communication with the other side of said auxiliary valve, and a source of compressed air in connection With one of said auxiliary conduits, the other of said auxiliary conduits being connected to said fluid pressure operated device.

3. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus,

7 the combination of a transmission tube having a carrier despatching part, means for producing a carrier propelling flow of air adapted to be placed in communication with said tube, a valve controlling said communication, a fluid pressure operated device for actuating said valve, a valve chamber having therein an auxiliary valve, means for controlling said auxiliary valve from a point adjacent said carrier despatching part, two auxiliary conduits, one of which is in communication With one side of said auxiliary valve and extends thence to said pressure operated device, and a source. of pressure fluid, the other of said auxiliary conduits extending from said pressure fluid source and communicating With the other side of said auxiliary Valve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 10 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this fifteenth day of August A. D. 1908.

JAMES G. MACLAREN.

Witnesses:

ELSIE MAGLAREN, WM. HEPPERLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

